Yemen’s Currency Collapse Sparks Humanitarian Catastrophe

The Yemeni rial continues to record daily losses against foreign currencies in the temporary capital, Aden, and other liberated areas, driving up prices for food and basic necessities.

Banking sources reported that in Thursday's trading, the exchange rate reached 2,389 riyals to buy one U.S. dollar and 2,409 riyals for selling, while the Saudi riyal traded at 628 riyals for buying and 631 riyals for selling.

The currency's collapse has sent food and essential commodity prices soaring, with costs now more than 15 times higher than before the war, which began after the Houthi militia's September 21, 2014 coup.

Yemenis face dire living conditions as economic collapse, unpaid salaries, and vanishing job opportunities leave many struggling to afford even basic meals. Most can no longer cover healthcare, education, or housing expenses.

Economic sources told Khabar that surging beggary reflects the crisis's severity, with government pledges of reform remaining unfulfilled after six years.

Corrupt officials have worsened the situation by plundering state resources and manipulating currency markets for personal profit. Political infighting and fragmented revenue systems have paralyzed services like electricity, healthcare, and infrastructure.

With oil and gas exports suspended for over two years and government factions locked in power struggles, the sources warned of irreversible collapse. They condemned all parties for imposing what amounts to starvation policies, emphasizing that these crimes carry no statute of limitations.